Hat well



Aug. 4, 1953 J. Pom-rs 2,647,665

HAT WELL Filed Sept. 16, 1952 W 1,: 5 3 Hz; "a"

INVENTOR. 70/221 Patented Aug. 4 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,647,665 HAT WELL Joseph Polite, Royal Oak, Mich. Application September 16, 1952, Serial No. 309,786

7 Claims. (Cl. 22384) This invention relates tohat holders or hat wells and is in the nature of an improvement in the hat holder or hat well device shown in my Patent No. 2,465,477.

. In its illustrated embodiment the hat well or hat holder of the present invention comprises a support, a pair of semi-ovaliform members pivotally mounted on said support, and upper and lower relatively movable complementary brim shaping structures engageable with the opposite surfaces of a hat brim, the lower brim shaping structure comprising two'semi-annular members each of which is mounted respectively on one of said semi-ovaliform members for movement therewith, the upper brim shaping structure being pivoted to said support to swing toward and away from said lower brim shaping structure. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved and simplified means responsive to the swinging of the upper brim shaping structure away from the lower brim shaping structure to move said semi-ovaliform members and the respective semi-annular members away from each other.

Other features and objects of the present invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a side plan view of a hat well, accord- :ing to a, preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken substantially through lines 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially through lines 33 of Fig. 1, look- :ing in the direction of the arrows. r

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the hat well.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevati'ontaken substantially through lines 5-5 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows. 6

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is n'ot'limited in its application to the details-of construction and arrangements ofparts illus rated in the accompanyingdrawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments andof being'practiced or carried out Also it is tobe understood that or: terminology employed herein. is pose of description and not of limitation.

in various ways. the phraseology Referring to the" drawings 'in'detail, the hat" holder orhat wellembodied in the presept'inven for the purtion comprises a base structure I 0, a crown receptacle consisting of two semi-ovaliform halves II and I2, lower brim shaping halves I3 and l4 fastened to the crown receptacle halves l l and I 2 respectively, and an upper brim shaping member l5. As best seen in Fig. 4, each crown receptacle half is provided with an inwardly horizontally extending tab [6 apertured to receive a pivot stud l1 whereby the crown receptacle halves are pivotally fastened to the base. Diametrically opposite the tabs [6 each crown receptacle half is provided with a second inwardly horizontally extending tab l8 having a slot 19 therein. Headed studs 20 projecting through slot l9 and fastened to the base l0 serve to hold the crown receptacle halves on the base while permitting limited lateral swinging movement of the halves II and I2 relativ to each other about the pivot studs l1.

The lower brim shaping halves l3 and I4 when placed in juxtaposition and the upper brim shaping member l5 are of a configuration conforming to the general shape of a hat brim and are provided with opposed concave and convex interfitting faces.

' The base I 0, the material of which may be metal, plywood or plastic, has fastened. thereto at each end upstanding post members or stanchions 2| and 22. The stanchions are illustrated ashaving channel shaped cross-sections but may be of any configuration having the desired structural rigidity. The stanchion 22 provides a support for the pivotal mounting of the upper brim shaping member [5. The upper brim shaping member I5 is fastened in any suitable manner, as by means of screws l5a. to a longitudinally extending rib member 23 which also functions as a hand grip member. Additional cross ribs 24 may be provided to provide for furtherstructural reinforcement of upper brim shaping member I5. The rib or hand grip member 23 is journalled at one end for swinging movement on a pin 25 secured to the upper end of the post member or stanchion 22. At its other end the rib or hand grip member 23 has fastened thereto a spring clip member 26 adapted to selectively engage any one of a series of notches or projections 21 formed on the upper outer surface of the stanchion 2 I. As best viewed in Fig. 5, the rib or hand grip member 23 is provided with a slot 28 through which the pivot pin 25 passes.

tion with the selective relationship of the spring clip 26 on the other end thereof with the notches or projections 2i thereon provides a construction and arrangement whereby the upper brim shaping member i is adjustable relative to the lower brim forming halves l3 and M to accommodate hats of difierent material thicknesses.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of a simplified and efficient mechanism for automatically swingingthe'c'rown re ceptacle halves i i and i2 including their attached lower brim forming halves l3 and I4, laterally away from each other upon upward swinging movement of the upper brim shaping member {5 thereby facilitating I of the hat H within or from the hat well. -On its outer surface near the lower edge thereof each crown receptacle half ii and l2'respectivelyhas fastened thereto a vertically extending tab tfl and 3!, the tabs normal-1y being spaced a slight distance apart. A sha'it tiz is-suitablyjourn ;lled in abracket 33 fastened to thebase lil between the crown receptacle halves Hand 2 and the post or stanchion- 22. The shaft-32 has formed on its left end-as viewed in thedrawings; 1a looped portion's i adapted when in a vertical-position to stand between the tabs 55!] and 3!. 'At-itsother end adjacent the stanchion' z2' the shaft 32 has a laterally extending-arm 35' forming ineffecta bell crank. The arm 35- is-ope'ratively connected tothe hand grip member 23 by avertically extending rod 36 pivotally connected at itstuppcr end to the hand grip ribor member 23and' hav-v ing a looped section 31 at its lower end adapted to receive the arm 35.

- In the operation or use ofthe'inve'ntion, to insert a hat, the operator disengages the-spring clip 26 from the holding notches'er projections 2'5 and swings the hand grip rib or member-23 from its solid line position to its dotted"vertical line-"position, as shown in Fig." 1. The upward swinging movement of the handgrip member 23 ,-car-ryi-ng therewith the upper brim shaping-member'- l5,"i'esuits in an upward movernent of" the vertical rod 36. approximately 90 resultingin-the'loopeda'portion 34 thereon assuming a horizontal pos-itionthereby spreading the tabs 3% and'3l. "Thespreading of the tabs 39' and 3! causes the crown receptacle halves ll and i2 to swing away from-each other. A spring means is provided to restore the crown receptacle halves to their normalposition-when the upper brim shaping member [E is permitted to swing down to its closedposition. "'As illustrated, the spring means consists erasures-rin away*-from-'said' lower 38*attached at each end to an apertured ear or lug- 39 formed in the" side of thecro'wn receptacle halves H and i2 respectively.

A pivoted blockingmember 40 is provided which when the hand grip member-23 isrin a position may bepositioned for engagement by a pin" extending from the end of 'themember 23. This construction isfor the purpose of providing a means for holding the upper-brim 'shaping moving a hat.

The foregoing construction andarrangementas described forms an efhcient and inexpensive-hat holder or hat well capable ofconveniently holding-a hatand also preservingthe shape erthe brim.

I claim:

1 A hat well comprising a-base, -a pair ofsemiovaliform members having semi-annular rim portions, means pivotally -mounting'said=5mem.-

the insertion or withdrawal This causes the shaft 32 to rotate -through vertical enlarge said member in open position while inserting =or' re-.-'

bers on said base for pivotal lateral movement relatively to each other, an annular member, said annular member and said semi-annular rim portions forming upper and lower complementary 5 brim shaping structures engageable with the opposite surfaces of a hat brim, means supporting said annular member for swinging movement from a closed position to an open position relative to said semi-annular rim portions, bell crank meansmoumed-on said base and having a part thereof in abutting relation to a part of each semi-ovaliform member, and link means connecting said bell crank means to said annular members, said link means upon swinging of said 5 annular member to an open position actuating said b'ell crank means to cause said part thereof towabut said parts of the semi-ovaliform members and thereby pi'votally separate the same.

*QFA-hat well comprising a base, a pair of semi- 0 ovaliform members having semi-annular rim portions;-means pivotally mounting said members on*sa-id"base= for pivotal'lateral movement rela tively to each 'other an 'annular member, said annular member and said semi-annular rim portions-"formingupper and lower complementary brim shaping" structures engageable with the 0pposite-su-riacesof ahat brim, means supporting said-annular member for swinging movement from--aclosed position to an cpenposition relative tosaid' semi-annular rim portions, 'bell crank means mounted on-said base and having a part thereof-inabuttingrelation to a part 01 each seini-ovaliform member, link means connecting said bell crank means to said annular member, said link means upon swinging of said annular member toan-open-position-actuating said bell crank 'means' to-causesaid part thereof to abut said== parts of the semi-ovaliform members and thereby pivotally separate the same, and spring means adapted to restore'said semi-ovaliiorm members totheirnormalposition uponsaid annular-"member being swung to a closed position. =3.-A 'hat'well comprising a support, a pair of semi-ovaliform members pivotally mounted on said'support'and forming a recess adapted to receive the crown portion of a hat, upper and lower complementary-brim shaping structures adapted to engage theoppositesurfaces of a hat bria, the lower brim shapingstructure comprising two semi an'nular"members'each of which is mounted respectively on one of said semi-ovaliform members for movement therewith, means pivotally mounting saidupper brim'shaping structure on said support for swinging movement toward'and brim shaping structure, spreader means journalled on said support and having apartthereofengageable with each of saidsemi-ovaliform'members, and link means connecting said 'sprea'der'means to said upper structure to tra'nsmitswinging movement of said upper structure away fromsaid lower structure to's'aid spreader meansand cause the said part thereof to engage said-semi-ovaliform members andrm'ove-thesame away-'from each other 'to recess.

4. A hat well comprising a support, a pair of semi-ovaliform members pivotally mounted on said support and forming a recess adapted to receive the crown portion of a hat, upper and lower complementary brim shaping structures adapted toengage the opposite'surfaces of a hat brim, thelower brim shaping structure comprising two semi-annular members each of which is mounted respectively on one of said semi-ovalit zgiormmembers for movement therewith, means pivotally mounting said upper brim shaping structure on said support for swinging movement toward and away from said lower brim shaping structure, spreader means journalled on said support and having a part thereof engageable with each of said semi-ovaliform members, and link means connecting said spreader means to said upper structure to transmit swinging movement of said upper structure away from said lower structure to said spreader means and cause the said part thereof to engage said semi-ovaliform members and move the same away from each, other to enlarge said recess, and spring means connected to said semi-ovaliform members and adapted to move the same in the opposite direction upon said upper structure being swung toward said lower structure.

5. A hat well comprising a support, said support comprising a base portion and a column portion, a pair of semi-ovaliform members independently pivotally mounted on said base portion and forming a recess adapted to receive the crown portion of a hat, upper and lower complementary brim shaping structures adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of a hat brim, the lower brim shaping structures comprising two semi-annular members each of which is mounted respectively on one of said semi-ovaliform members, means pivotally mounting said upper brim shaping structure on said support column portion for swinging movement towardand away from said lower brim shaping structure, and a spreader means mounted on said support having a part thereof connected to said upper structure and a second part thereof operatively en- :5

gageable with said semi-ovaliform members to pivotally move the same to enlarge said recess upon said upper structure being swung away from said lower structure.

6. A hat well comprising a support, said support comprising a base portion and a column portion, a pair of semi-ovaliform members independently pivotally mounted on said base portion and forming a recess adapted to receive the crown portion of a hat, upper and lower comple mentary brim shaping structures adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of a hat brim, the lower brim shaping structures comprising two semi-annular members each of which is mounted respectively on one of said semi-ovaliform members, means pivotally mounting said upper brim shaping structure on said support column portion for swinging movement toward and away from said lower brim shaping structure, and a spreader means mounted on said support having a part thereof connected to said upper structure and a second part thereof operatively engageable with said semi-ovaliform members to pivotally move the same to enlarge said recess upon said upper structure being swung away from said lower structure, and spring means connected to said semiova1iform members and adapted to move the same in the opposite direction upon said upper structure being swung toward said lower structure.

7. A hat well comprising a support, said support comprising a base portion and a column portion, a pair of semi-ovaliform members independently pivotally mounted on said base portion and forming a recess adapted to receive the crown portion of a hat, upper and lower complementary brim shaping structures adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of a hat brim, the lower brim shaping structures comprising two semi-annular members each of which is mounted respectively on one of said semi-ovaliform members, means pivotally mounting said upper brim shaping structure on said support column portion for swinging movement toward and away from said lower brim shaping structure, and bell crank means journalled on said base portion, said bell crank means having a lever arm at one end and a part at the other end engageable with a part of each semi-ovaliform member, link means connecting said lever arm and upper structure to transmit swinging movement of the latter to said bell crank means, said bell crank means part when moved in one direction upon movement of said upper structure away from said lower structure engaging said semi-ovaliform member parts and pivotally moving said semi-ovaliform members in a direction to enlarge said recess.

JOSEPH POLITE.

Name Date Polite Mar. 29, 1949 Number 

